She Runs Illinois 2020! — Joyce Mason, candidate for IL House of Representatives, District 61
She Votes Illinois is pleased to feature Joyce Mason, incumbent, running for IL House of Representatives, District 61. Follow our series, She Runs Illinois 2020!, leading up to election day as we showcase and uplift the voices of Illinois women running for public office in the upcoming election.
Tell us about yourself
I’m a lifelong resident of Illinois. I’ve lived in the 61st district, which is the Northeastern corner of Illinois, for the past 20 years. I’ve raised my two children here, and made it my home. My professional background is in human resources and in education. I never considered running for office until 2017, when I was elected to the local school board. The 2016 election made me realize how important it is for regular people to run for office and for our elected officials to truly reflect the demographics of their constituents. I watched as my state representative voted against women’s equality, racial equity, education funding, critical community services, and environmental protections. I knew that the people of my district deserved better representation. I wanted to be the voice for all of the people whose needs were going unmet, and I decided to run for that office.
Tell us about the women in your life
My mother was an incredibly strong woman who taught me about kindness, equality, and the importance of voting. Because of her, I’ve always tried to give back to my community and work on issues that are important to me, including pay equity, equality, domestic violence, education and food insecurity.
The biggest challenge I’ve faced has been balancing motherhood with the demands of a campaign. It’s not easy. However, I try to keep my kids involved and talk to them about why I’m doing what I’m doing. My hope is that they are learning about the importance of service and working for what you believe in.
What led you into politics? Why are you running for THIS office?
I never wanted to be in politics — however, I did want to represent my community and be a legislator. I love being able to be the voice of my community, and to be a part of creating meaningful policy that has a real impact on people.
How will you help ensure equitable access to healthcare for people in Black and Brown communities that are hardest hit by the coronavirus?
I’ve supported a number of measures that will expand access to healthcare for those affected the hardest by coronavirus. SB1864 expands tele-health care and mental health care options. It also makes it easier to gain coverage under the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and the Illinois All Kids program. SB2541 creates a healthcare transformation program for communities with significant healthcare disparities. It provides Illinois hospitals with at least $263 million in additional annual funding up to $3.8 billion for the program which will be used to provide healthcare in under-resourced communities. I will continue to work for equitable funding, affordability and availability of healthcare in our communities.
Have you participated in any BLM protests? What influenced your decision?
I’ve been a supporter of our local Black Lives Matter chapter long before I decided to run for office. I did participate in a number of recent BLM protests. It was important to me to continue to stand in solidarity with that community and show my support as an ally. We all have to work together to end the systemic racism that has endured.
What is the most important policy you could implement that would help women in your district?
Implementing polices that ensure access to a full range of affordable healthcare is especially important right now. But the women in my district also need access to quality higher education and vocational training, as well as economic opportunities. I also continue my work on addressing the domestic violence epidemic, which is critical for all women in Illinois.
What do you wish you had known before you decided to run for office?
I’m not sure anything can fully prepare you for how completely exhausting and all-encompassing running for office can be. It’s helpful to be really organized and in good physical health going into it.
Closing comments
I am incredibly proud to represent my district and to have had the opportunity to support and introduce legislation that helps my constituents and the people of Illinois. My first year in the legislature was tremendous. We put Illinois back on track, passed historic legislation, balanced a budget, enacted a capital plan, and fully funded education. I was ready to go in my second year with a lengthy list of legislation, and then COVID hit. While I was certainly frustrated and disappointed to have our plans derailed, my work in the district pivoted to addressing the immediate needs that a pandemic created. I was glad to be able to serve in that role because we are genuinely helping people to survive. The pandemic also put a spotlight on so many of the disparities that exist in our communities. There’s a lot of work still to be done, and I will work tirelessly to continue what was already in process, as well as new work that is urgently needed to address inequities in education and healthcare as well as COVID protections and economic recovery.
If you would like to learn more about Joyce Mason and her platform or volunteer for her campaign, please check out her website at votejoycemason.com. Don’t forget to follow her on social media at @votejoycemason. Reach out today and help make a difference in the upcoming 2020 election.
(The information contained in this post is provided only as general information and does not imply an endorsement by She Votes Illinois.)
